2013 Ford Mustang - New Design, More Technology +VIDEO

LOS ANGELES, November 15, 2011: Ford Mustang – the icon of
American performance and style – gets even more street swagger with a
new design and a list of smart features that signal even more technology in
the popular pony car.

“The new Mustang is the perfect example of continuing to build on
excellence. It takes the greatness of the 5.0-liter and V6 and pushes the
refinement to the next level,” said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief
engineer. “The car has been spot-on functionally and now we’re
adding more features and technology to further improve the driver’s
experience.”

Watch a short Mustang GT preview video

More aggressive design
The new model Mustang, which goes on sale in spring 2012, offers a more
aggressive design with a significantly more prominent grille. A more
powerful splitter adds to that appearance. Functional heat extractors on
the hood of the GT were specifically placed and designed to help move hot
air out of the engine compartment and cool the engine.

“We are delivering a more distinctive and emotional design
presence that celebrates the total performance of Mustang,” said
Darrell Behmer, Mustang chief designer. “This latest Mustang design
is very respectful of its heritage while continuing to look forward with a
more powerful and modern look.”

Rocker panels running along the car are now body-color, making for a
more premium appearance. The rear has been updated with a high-gloss black
panel that connects the taillamps. Keeping the sequential turn signal
Mustang is known for, the taillamps also deliver a smoked appearance that
matches the more purposeful look up front.

Also new for Mustang design are standard high-intensity discharge (HID)
headlamps on both V6 and GT cars. Signature lighting plays into the
technology upgrades for 2013 as well, with two individual light-emitting
diode (LED) bars accentuating the front headlamps and three LED ropes
forming the iconic three-bar rear lights.

The new Mustang offers a revamped wheel lineup, ranging from the
standard 17-inch wheels for V6 all the way up to 19-inch optional wheels on
the GT and V6 Performance Package. With updated designs, the wheels also
offer new finishes and touches for a more powerful appearance.

There are two different finishes on the 17-inch wheel –
machined-aluminum and painted. Three optional V6 wheels include an 18-inch
polished aluminum set, an updated 18-inch painted aluminum and a 19-inch
painted wheel design, with a new theme for the V6 Performance Package.

The standard 18-inch painted aluminum wheel on both GT and premium GT is
an evolution of the five-spoke design. The 19-inch optional GT wheel comes
with a gloss-black finish with machined face for a more sinister look.

The new car also offers mirrors with pony projection light, which casts
the image of Mustang’s famous pony emblem on the ground when the
unlock button is activated. New colors – Deep Impact Blue and Gotta
Have It Green – join the existing sporty colors for 2013.

Also new on V6 and GT are optional leather-trimmed or cloth RecaroŽ
seats that are currently available on the Shelby GT500 and Boss 302.
Designed to enhance the high-performance driving experience, lateral
bolsters in the cushion and seatback are used to ensure drivers have the
support needed on the track during hard cornering and to deliver a
comfortable ride.

The seats also come complete with integrated head restraints with ample
room for drivers and passengers wearing helmets when at the track. Openings
on the seatback are included for customers looking to create performance
setups for their car on track days. The Recaro seats are the result of a
global team effort led by SVT along with the Mustang engineering group in
North America, Team RS in Europe and Recaro.

New driving technologies The 2013 Mustang with 5.0-liter engine will now
deliver 420 horsepower. Based on learnings from developing the high-output
444-horsepower Mustang Boss 302, the team was able to adapt several of the
designs to the 5.0-liter.

The new Mustang can be specified with a six-speed SelectShift
Automatic™ transmission. This advanced control strategy offers the
driver a choice between fully automatic operation and manual control. The
system is controlled with a selector button on the side of the shifter. The
shifter has been upgraded for 2013 with more modern style and improved
accessibility.

“This lets owners take an automatic out on a track day or whenever
they want to drive sportier, and lets them have the convenience of
switching to manual control,” said Tom Barnes, Mustang vehicle
engineering manager. “It’s a significant improvement to our
powertrain offerings that lets the driver take control.”

This capability makes the Mustang experience sporty yet smooth. Unlike
some competitors’ transmissions, SelectShift won’t second-guess
the driver with an override shift. With SelectShift, manual control is
truly manually controlled.

A new option, the GT Track Package, debuts for 2013 for customers who
want to push their Mustang even further at the track. Available only on
manual GT Mustangs with a 3.73 axle, the package gives track enthusiasts an
engine cooler, upgraded radiator, performance friction brake pads and the
same TorsenŽ differential that’s on Mustang Boss 302. The package
includes everything in the current Brembo™ Brake Package, with
14-inch vented front discs, unique 19-inch alloy wheels and summer
performance tires.

Other optional package updates for 2013 include offering the Brembo
Brake Package on both manual and automatic transmissions on Mustang GT. The
V6 Performance Package is now available on automatic Mustangs for the first
time.

Hill start assist makes its debut on manually equipped Mustangs. This
feature helps keep the car from rolling backward, making it easier to pull
away when on a slope or hill. With the brake pedal pressed, if sensors
detect the car is on a slope, the system is automatically activated. Brake
pressure is held in the braking system and the car remains stationary on
the slope for up to two seconds after the driver releases the brake
pedal.

A new 4.2-inch LCD productivity screen that lets customers access
information related to fuel economy and vehicle performance also makes its
debut on Mustang. The screen is navigated through a five-way control button
located on the steering wheel and offers Track Apps, which delivers
performance metrics for drivers right from the factory. The app measures g
forces, shows acceleration times in quarter-mile and 0-60 increments, and
displays braking times, complete with automatic and countdown starts.

The 2013 Mustang also offers customers two new audio systems for even
better sound quality for incredible clarity and crispness. The optional
Shaker™ system comes with eight speakers and pumps out 370 watts of
power. The upgraded Shaker Pro offers nine speakers and delivers 550 watts
of power.

Watch the Mustang Boss 302 preview video

The 2013 Ford Mustang will be built at AutoAlliance International Plant
in Flat Rock, Mich.